Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: winz on April 16, 2017, 07:27:36 AM

Title: which Woodpecker?
Post by: winz on April 16, 2017, 07:27:36 AM

This one was in my backyard.  Doesn't have a white back, no red on the head.

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2857/34028692126_741369bfac_c.jpg)

Title: Re: which Woodpecker?
Post by: Kris Ito on April 16, 2017, 07:35:51 AM

This is a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The males have a red crown and red throat, while the females usually have a only a red crown. My Sibleys notes that "occasionally" a female can show a black crown, as in your photo. I've no idea how uncommon this might be! They seem to have been arriving in numbers just this past week. -Kris

Title: Re: which Woodpecker?
Post by: winz on April 16, 2017, 10:31:32 AM

Thanks Kris.  Everything but the red on the crown pointed to Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, so it threw me off.  I wasn't aware that it could be all black.  I saw one at work last week that had a slight bit of red on the crown and white throat.

Title: Re: which Woodpecker?
Post by: Bird Brain on April 20, 2017, 03:36:58 PM

Hi Winz.  Cool photo!   8)

Maplewood Park is a good location for sighting Sapsuckers.